A cemetery wall, which collapsed during storms causing human remains to be washed into the street, is still waiting to be repaired 12 months later.
Those with family members buried at Largo and Newburn Parish Church and local residents, have voiced their anger at the lack of progress which has left Church Place closed for more than a year and access to nearby houses restricted.
Earth from the exposed graveyard remains fenced off and covered with plastic sheeting, while sandbags protect the wall to prevent further collapse.
Colin Ballingall, whose eight times great uncle was Robinson Crusoe author Alexander Selkirk and who has several generations of the Selkirk family buried at the church dating back as far as the 1650s, said he is disgusted by the delays.
“Given the sensitive nature of the damage which exposed graves, a year with little or no progress in getting the cemetery repaired is unacceptable and deeply distressing.
“I have family members going back to the 1650s buried here, including my nine times great grandparents and others buried in the 1700s.
“I have at least one family plot which is close to the damaged area and I fear that will be affected if further erosion is allowed to occur and repairs are not carried out soon.
“The road has remained closed for over a year now and while the coronavirus can be blamed for some of the delay, the collapse happened a full eight months before lockdown so it’s certainly not been a priority.”
One resident said the lack of access to his property had been “very frustrating”, adding he had received a letter in March informing locals of repairs but had heard nothing since.
Ian Wallace, from Fife Council’s Assets, Transportation and Environment department had written that parties including a conservation architect and structural engineer, council archaeologist, building inspector and colleagues from bereavement services were all involved.
He added: “Drawings have been prepared by various parties, finalised and issued.
“The project has provided a number of challenges given the terrain involved behind the area of the collapse and the development of solutions required to allow a safe working area for site personnel to carry out the works.”
He also confirmed that a Sheriff’s Warrant and Listed Building Consent had been sought to allow work to commence.
Alan Paterson, service manager said: “Statutory approvals are in place, but work has been curtailed because of pandemic restrictions.
“Work should start on site in the near future and the project is being treated as a priority. The adjacent road should also be re-opened as soon as possible following completion of the work.”